Used AP code to modify ressie, now final payment is due 21 days prior to check-in?!?!

[Jen in MA]

When the new AP codes came out last week, I called CRO to modify my existing reservation for Pop Century. Yesterday I received my paperwork for the change and now instead of the balance being due upon check-in, the balance is now due 21 days before check-in. On the back, it says I have a CUF Package, but then says the only thing included in the package is 9 nights at Pop Century. The cancellation policy of 5 days is still there. I thought that all rooms booked using an AP code were "room only" through CRO. Did my ressie somehow get switched to a package through WDW Travel? Thought someone here might know... I always like to have my facts straight before calling Disney! Thanks in advance!

 

[goofyandmore]

I booked my reservation also with the ap discout and was told that the balance was due at time of check-in after I paid the one night's deposit. When I spoke to disney travel today, they told me they act as both CRO and Disney travel, but for the ap discout, the reservation had to be booked as CRO. Maybe they made a mistake. You should call them and hopefully get someone who knows the right way to do it. I know they just hired a lot of new operators, so maybe someone just didn't know how to do it correctly.

Good luck, Carolyn

 

[infoseeker]

I had a reservation using an AAA discount and recently I changed it when the new codes came out. I also received a new confirmation that stated the remainder of the balance was due soon (not at check in as I was told). I called CRO and when they checked my reservation on their computer, they said that they showed that my balance was indeed due when I check in, and that I could disregard what the confirmation said. I'm still a little worried about this, but I noted who I spoke with, the date and the time.

 

[jade1]

Where is the information on the AP codes please? We just bought AP at xmas and plan 2 more trips this year and this sounds like something to look into. Thanks.

 

[Cookie55]

The same thing happened to me!! Guess I better call to find out what is going on!

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

When I called Friday to add an additional room and extra days to my original reservation. I questioned the CM about the statement across the bottom of my ressie that said bal of $$$ was due by March 05, she said if you have a Twelve digit confirmation # that bal is due at check-in. (With 5-day cancellation) I asked her to be send me an updated copy.

 

[Jen in MA]

I can't find a "confirmation number" on my reservation... but the reservation number has 12 digits?!?!

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by MAGICinMYHEART
When I called Friday to add an additional room and extra days to my original reservation. I questioned the CM about the statement across the bottom of my ressie that said bal of $$$ was due by March 05, she said if you have a EIGHT digit confirmation # that bal is due at check-in. (With 5-day cancellation) I asked her to be send me an updated copy.

Here's a shocker: the CM was wrong.

If you have an 8 digit confirmation on a white paper, you have a WDTC reservation and the balance is due 45 days prior to arrival. If you have a 12 digit number on yellow paper, it is a CRO reservation and is due at check in regardless of what is printed on the paper.

The CRO reservations will show as a package because the computer was programmed that way when CRO did packages. It would spit out anything that used a code as a package. Now that CRO doesn't handle packages, DRC doesn't seem to be too worried about reprogramming the CRO computer program to eliminate it.

 

[Karibeth19]

I got this info. per Deb's WDW info website:

HOW DO I KNOW WHO MADE MY RESERVATION SINCE I DIDN'T ASK WHEN I CALLED?
Look at your confirmation sheet. If you got a large yellow sheet that carries a 12 digit confirmation number, you have a CRO reservation. If you got a legal size white envelope with a white sheet of paper that carries an 8 digit number, you have a WDTC reservation. (Although I think the paper colors have changed)

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN WHO MAKES YOUR RESERVATION?
CRO CMs take Disney room only reservations and some code offerings and enter them into the CRS reservation system. WDTC CMs are trained using software that allows them to book your air, airport transfers or rental cars as well as your Disney resort just like travel agents can. CRO books room only and discounted room only reservations (i.e., AAA, FL Res, Passholder, Cast Member, etc.) using three letter codes. CRO no longer books any packages. Think of it like this -- CRO books on-site, Disney-supplied components ONLY (hotel, admissions, dining, recreation, etc.). WDTC's claim to fame is "all-inclusive" vacations, i.e., trip insurance, air, transfers or rental cars (yes, WDTC DOES BOOK RENTAL CARS!), hotel, admissions, and any other components a guest may want (meals, recreation, etc.).

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES IN TERMS BETWEEN A WDTC RESERVATION AND A CRO RESERVATION?
There are several differences in terms between CRO and WDTC:

A CRO room only reservation requires a one night's deposit within 14 days. If arrival is less than 30 days out, deposit is required at booking. The balance is due at resort check in. MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover are accepted. You may also mail a check or money order. Cancellations up to the 6 day mark will have your deposit refunded in full. Cancellations after the 6 day mark will be charged the one night's deposit as a penalty. Any additional amounts that may have been paid on the reservation will be refunded in full. There is no time limit on when you can make modifications to an existing CRO reservation with no additional charge. This can be done right up to arrival.

A WDTC package (including the "room only" Basic Package) requires a $200.00 deposit within 14 days of booking. The balance will be due 45 days prior to check in. Checks, money orders, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover are accepted. Cancellation between 6 and 45 days prior to arrival will result in a $100.00 fee. Cancellation 5 days or less will incur a $200.00 fee. Any change or modification of the reservation inside the 45 day mark will incur a $50.00 fee.



So, check your confirmation # and call if you're still not sure. If CUF was the three letter discount code you used, and all that's listed is a room-only ressie, you should still be with CRO. The same thing happened to us and we were fine, our balance was still due on check-in. I think with the new computer systems, a lot of mistakes are being made.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Originally posted by Jen in MA
I can't find a "confirmation number" on my reservation... but the reservation number has 12 digits?!?!

Twelve digits is what I ment...I have no idea why I typed EIGHT....I corrected the information...'

 

[kapica3]

Oh my gosh! I had the exact same thing happen to me. Originally booked with AAA changed to AP CUF. Received new confirmation via mail saying my balance is due on such and such date (did'nt count how many days - but in the month before I arrive) called Disney. They said according to their computer I need to pay at check-in. I asked for a mailed confirmation. Must be a computer glitch.

 

[travellady]

I too converted from AAA to AP and my confirmation now states due 3/20/04 for a 4/10 arrival. And, I made a new AP reservation for my son's for 4/14 arrival and once again the full amount is due in advance per the confirmation.

Since I'm always very cautious, and I planned on paying with my Disney Visa anyway, I am going to go ahead and pay in full prior to the listed due date. For those of you planning to pay with your Disney Visa, there is an advantage to this - you get points that can be applied to the total.

I suspect when I do check out, I can have those points applied to my account and if I have more points than due, I'll be credited. I probably won't since I do charge to my room and have a feeling I'll charge more than the points I'll have

 

[kapica3]

You know, I was thinking the same thing. We are going to pay for our room anyhow. Why not pay by the date stated on the statement and feel safe. Nothing worse than feeling that something may be "wrong" with your Disney vacation. Gosh, I'm a bundle of nerves this week (high strung I guess) over making PS's that will fit in "The Big Picture" of my vacation. Until I get everything settled, I can't really rest. I think I would just kick the bucket right there on the spot if I went to check-in and they told me that I don't have a reservation.

 

[Wick]

I don't think the color of the paper is an indicator anymore.

I asked if I was speaking to CRO, and was told yes. I used a AAA discount , and I received a white, standard-sized paper, with a big red border across the top, with my 12-digit confirmation number.

 

[Cinderella37]

My CRO reservation with the AAA discount for July is on white paper and states that the balance must be paid 45 days out. My confirmation for this past December using the AP discount was the same. I called to confirm that the balance was due at check-in and the CM said to disregard the 45 day policy. We always pay in full prior to check-in to expedite things, but I was worried about forgetting to call 46 days out and ending up with no reservation.

 

[SuBeat]

We had the same thing happen with our reservation in December. Every CM I spoke to told me the same thing, their computers showed the balance due at check in. The reason I was given was that since the AP discount was entered as a code, the package rules automatically printed out on the confirmation. Seems like something they could easily fix if they wanted to.

 

[becka]

Well I am glad this happened to other people as well. I just recently noticed that my confirmation says that my balance is due this upcoming Saturday for our Feb. trip. However, when I switched over to the code rate they told me that my balance was due at check-in. I was getting a little confused.

I will probably go ahead and pay in full in advance by this Saturday just so I will feel a little better about it. I don't want to risk our good rate being cancelled...that would be a bad way to start a trip.

 

[Efastpitch]

We booked our AP reservation, made sure that we ask for room reservation only, made our depoist, and will pay the balance when we get there.

 

[TimNDansMom]

I originally booked a room-only CAA/AAA discount with only a deposit required which I paid at the time of booking. Then when the latest room-only codes came out, I phoned back and changed my reservation to that.

The CM didn't think that I would receive an updated invoice since there were no other changes but I figured I would and sure enough I got one in the mail today. Now like everyone else who has changed to a code it seems, I have a "package" which is due 21 days before my arrival! I have the 12 digit Reservation Number.

I don't know if I want to pay the balance before I arrive. I have always paid the balance when I got there. As recently as October, I booked a Canadian room-only code and only had to pay the deposit. I will phone and see what my reservation on their computer says though. It sure pays to go through everything again diligently (which I guess I didn't) each time you call!